Ahead of the curtain raiser clash between the defending champions RCB and the runner-up of the 2024 IPL, SRH, the former IPL player R. Ashwin, in his YouTube channel “Ash ki Baat”, revealed Henrich Klassen to be the player to have his “night to remember” moment in this historic clash.
Despite having a lukewarm season last time, Ashwin still backs Klassen to be his underdog player for this match. Klassen has scored 1,440 runs with an average of 28.80 and a strike rate of 148 in the 59 innings of the 65 matches he has played after the 2024 T20 World Cup Final.
Klassen also had a rather disappointing SA20 stint with scoring just 138 runs in seven innings at an average of 19.17 with the strike rate of 128.97 and his best score being 29.
In his Youtube video, the former player also said that if Klassen is the player from SRH whose performance he is looking forward too, it is the rising sensation of England, Jacob Bethell who could be RCB’s best find this season. Bethell had a brilliant 2026 T20 World Cup as he emerged as the top-scorer for England and almost won England the semi-final against India by making a brilliant knock of 48- ball 105 in the Wankhede Stadium. However, he got out and couldn’t qualify his team for the finals.
"I have a strange feeling for this match. In the last 18 months, this guy has not done much wonders. A strange feeling that Heinrich Klaasen is going to have a night to remember, I don't know why. From RCB's side, I think Jacob Bethell will be the power player of the day," he said.
Is SRH vs RCB the new budding rivalry?
Ashwin also highlighted that from the past two season, SRH has been a trouble for RCB, as they have posted gigantic totals against the team in the last two matches. He also recalled the 251 score of last year with a 94 from Ishan Kishan. SRH has won two matches against RCB in the last two season with a margin of 25 and 42 runs respectively. He can also see the pattern repeating as RCB is playing without Hazlewood this time.
"SRH have got the better of RCB in the recent past, and they will follow in this game also, I feel that this game will also follow that trend, for strange reasons that RCB are without Hazlewood. In that game in Lucknow last year, as well, Hazlewood was not there, if I am not wrong," he said.
Ashwin also pointed out the lack of bowling depth in RCB this year with Bhuvneshwar Kumar being their primary bowler.
"In RCB, we always have to remember that death overs bleed. If wickets are in hand, then it is not only difficult to stop runs in the death overs, it is impossible," he signed off.
